Self-leveling berth



` To all whom it may concern:

5 j @NdT-ED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE- JAMES H. ylronrna., oF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ySELF-LEVELING BERTH.

sPEcIFrcAzrIoNrorming part of Lettersatent No. 276,874, dated May 1, 1883.

` Application tiled J uly 15, 1882. (No model.)

,- Be it known that I, JAMES H. PORTER, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain Improvementsin Self-Leveling Berths,ofwhich the follovvingis a specification. r.

. This invention relates to thatclass of selfleveling berths Shown in Letters Patent of the United States granted to me May 3,1881, No. 241,062, in which a beam pivoted centrallytoa fixed supportis employed, said beam having oi'set ends, to which the ends of the berth are attached, and being providedwith friction-rollers around its pivot, to prevent the binding tendency of the offset berth.

. The present `invention has for its object to provide certain improvements in the means for pivoting the offset bar toits Support, in the means for pivoting the ends of the berth to thebar, and in other detailsof "construction, wherebyspace is economized, the automatic or self-leveling action of the berth is made more complete and satisfactory, and other nseful results are produced.

To these ends my invention consists in the improvements WhichI will now proceed to describe and claim. Of`the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, Figure l represents a front elevation of a self-leveling berth embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 represents a transverse section on line x rr, Fig. 1. Fig. 2a represents a similar section with the berth in a different position. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section on line y y, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a modification. Fig. 5 represents a section on line z a, Fig. 4.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the gures.

In the drawings, A represents the berth, and B the pivoted bar having offset ends, to which the berth is pivoted. In carrying out my invention I pivot thebar B to the state-room wall C,or other su pport, by means of a ring, D, rigidly attached to the bar, a concentric ring, E, rigidly attached to the wall and inclosing the ring D, and a series of interposed 1Africtionballs, F, placed at suitable intervals in coinciding grooves formed in the proximate surfaces of the rings D E. Said rings may be of any desired diameter and thickness. I prefer D continuous.

tomake them of as large diameter as the length of the bar B Will allow, and of as little thickness as possible. `It willbe observed that the ring D constitutes the journal of the bar 55 B, and the fixed ringEthe bearing for said journal. By thus constructing thejournal and bearing I am enabled to make both much shorter-that is, having much less projectionl from the Wall G-than the journal and bearin g 6c shown in my former patent, the increased diam eter compensatingfor the decrease in length or outward projection. The bar B and the berth are therefore located much nearer the rear wall ofthe state-room than heretofore, and 6 5 much saving in space is effected. Ihcfriction-balls projecting equally into both rings support the ring G and `its attachments both vertically and laterally.

I do not limit myself to making the rings E 7o If desired, they may be divided into short segments, two ,or more in number. The movable ring D'may be upon theinner or outer side of" the fixed ring ,or bearing E, as desired.

The offset ends of the barB are formed into rings B', standing at right angles to the rings D E. The ends or heads of the berth Aarecomposed of rings a, inclosed in the rings B', and concavo-convex plates a,of sheetmetal or other 8o suitable` thin material, attached to the rings a, and each havingaradius equal to abouthalf the length of the berth. The proximate snrfaces of the rings B and c are provided with coinf ciding grooves, in which are placed balls I, 85 which permit the berth to rotate freely,v as on a longitudinal axis. By making the ends of the beam to encircle the ends of theberth and giving the ends of the berth the concave-convex form, with the radius shown, I am enabled 9o to make the length of the bcrthexceed that of the bar, and thus obtain the maximum lorigitudinal capacity in a given space, the head and feet of the occupant being enabled to project through the bearing on which the berth 95 is journaled and come in close proximity to the ends of the state-room. The described radius of the end 'plates enables them to be placed almost in contact with the ends of the state-room without colliding therewith when roo the berth rocks or pitches.

In case it is desired to furnish additional support for the berth, the offset endsof the barB may be connected by a beam, K, extending under the berth,lengthwise thereof, and provided with a curved surface, L, concentric with the pivot of the bar B. Under this curved surface is placed a reversely-curved track, M, also concentric with the pivot of the bar B. The surface L and track M are provided with coinciding grooves, in which are placed balls O.

It will be seen that all the friction-rollers employed are balls running in grooves. I find that balls are superior to all other forms of friction rollers, because the axis ofvmotionrin each ball will always be at right angles to the powerorpressureexerted. Consequentlyoperation of the balls will be the same under all possible motions of the vessel.

By my above-described improvements I am enabled to operate a berth athwartships quite wall C, to which the ring E is attached, may be n as well as fore and aft. Said improvements are applicable to tables, chairs, settees, and other structures as well as to berths:

The support afforded for the ends of the berth by the rings B', formed on the bar B, enables the berth to be tipped to one side and secured in the position shown in Fig. 2, so as to serve as a sofa, the barB being fastened when the berth is so used, if desired. The

a 'section of Wall or a back plate, which is detachably connected by bolts R R to a fixed Wall or other support, so that by detaching lthe section G from its support the location of g the berth may be readily changed. For 'example, 'the-berth may be taken from a state-room to the cabin or deck. I prefer tov provide -the ends of the berth with curved rods or wires U to support a. curtain, V, the curtain being I adapted to be gathered at the rear edge of the berth when not in use, and to be drawn over upon the rods, so as to form an arched covering over the berth. The curtain moves withv the berth and prevents the occupant of the berth from seeing external objects, and thus prevents a common cause of sea-sickness.

lfdesired, the ends of the berth may be made only partially circular, the upper portion being cnt off or given any desired ornamental form.

Figs. 4 and 5 represent a modification in which the bar B is passed at its center through a disk, h, which has pivots b c projecting from its opposite sides into bearings b c, formed in a fixed supporting-frame, d. The pivots b c present acute angles, or slightly-rounded acute angles, to the bearings b c', and are adapted to rock freely on said bearings. The pivot b is arranged above the bearing b', and the pivot c below the bearing c', as shown in Fig. 5. 4 This arrangement enables the pivots and bearings to -resist to the best advantage the side strain caused by the weight of the berth on the offset beam.

I claim- 1. The combination, with the offset bar and the berth or equivalent structure supportedtherehy, of the journal D, affixed to the bar,

the fixed bearing E for said journal, and the `berth are supported in all directions, as set forth.

3. The pivoted har B, having its ends offset and formed into rings B', combined with the berth or equivalent structure, having the circular or partially circular ends projecting through and journaled in the rings B', as set forth.

4t. The pivoted bar B, having vits ends offset and formed into internally-grooved rings B',

vcombined with the berth, having at its ends j the externally-grooved rings a a, and the fricl tion-balls I, interposed between said rings, as set forth.

5. The combination, with thepivoted bar B, having offset ends, and the berth or its equivalent pivoted thereto, of the beam K, connecting said offset ends under the berth,and provided with the curved surface L, the curved track M, supported under the surface L, and the interposed friction-balls, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 8th day of July, 1882.

l JAMES H. PORTER.

Witnesses:

C. F. BROWN, A. L. WHITE.

IOS 

